Help! What should I do?

[GinainMD]

Hello everyone! My dds 7 and 8 are using Beyond this year. Before we started I anticipated some competition between them with the ERs as dd7 is a more advanced reader. So, I started them out in different books and that has worked out great. But, they listen to one another read and I'm not sure if that is ok as dd8 will eventually be reading the books that she is listening to dd7 read. Any thoughts on this? Also, during history read aloud and storytime read aloud dd 8 monopolizes answering the questions and narrating etc. Her comprehension skills are far superior to her younger sisters and she blurts out answers even to questions that I specifically ask her not to answer. I would really like to avoid separating them for too much and I don't want to discourage dd8 from answering questions because it is where she really shines. Any advice would be welcome.

[mrsrandolph]

Gina,

I can relate to your situation a great deal. My oldest 2 are a year apart also, and one is definitely stronger than the other. I do separate them for their reading time. I think that you will find that it isn't that time consuming, and what you learn about them as individual readers is so helpful to you as a teacher.

When it comes to the storytime and narrating, I would talk to the children very casually one day and explain that "we are going to try something different" with our storytime. Then explain that you are going to alternate who gets to "talk" about the story. Then every other day let each child do the narrating or whatever is required. Be sure to bring out the strengths of the weaker child so the stronger child doesn't feel superior.

Also, we do our storytime at bedtime. It makes it not seem like school. Then the narration and questions come up conversationally, and the flow more naturally from the kids. It is like they are in PJs on my bed with me. We are all snuggled up, and they are ready to let the ideas flow

My best to you. I know it can be tough!!

[pjdobro]

When I had my two reading the emerging readers, I did the same as you and started them in the different Bibles and I allowed my better reader to go ahead by a week or two so that they would be at different places. I physically separated them during reading time. The reader would sit by me on the couch in the living room downstairs while the other one would do their writing upstairs in the den. Then they would switch places. I think it was good for them to have that personal time with just me listening. I would definitely try to get them apart for reading. I think it is better for the confidence of the slower reader and also avoids the slower reader hearing what is coming up.

I have had the problem during narration and question time as well with one answering before the other. The way I've handled it is by addressing a question or a narration directly to a specific child. If the other starts to answer, I correct him and have the other child that I originally asked answer the question. I do this with narrations as well so they never know at the beginning which one of them will be chose to narrate a passage. I think that makes them pay more attention. It has taken some time and discipline to make this work. I think it is a worthy skill for them to learn though since it is the polite way to behave in regular conversation.

[Carrie]

Gina,

You've already received some great suggestions here. I agree it would be good to separate the two kiddos for their reading out loud to you sessions (to move away from comparison by the kiddos in that area for now and to be sure that each of the kiddos can truly answer the follow-up questions on his/her own).

As far as the follow-ups go when you are reading aloud to both children, CM would suggest using a red bean and a blue bean and placing both in your pocket. Assign each child a color of the bean, one to be red and one to be blue.Then, after the reading you would draw one bean out, and whichever color bean is represented that child answers. This keeps kiddos on their toes, makes sure it is random, and means a child must always be ready as he/she could be called on multiple times in a row to respond. If you don't have colored beans, then colored buttons, or unifix cubes, or anything of the same size could be used instead. Anyway you get the idea!

Blessings,
Carrie

[GinainMD]

Thank you all for responding! I'll try separating them for ERs. I also like the idea of the different colored beans to keep the element of surprise. Up until now I just let whomever wanted to, answer. Well, tomorrow I'll try out your suggestions. Thanks again.

[MomtoJGJE]

Carrie, thank you for the bean suggestion!! We don't have two in one guide any more, but we do a lot of things that require us to choose who does what, like sitting by the baby at the table, or getting in or out of the van first. This will help TREMENDOUSLY in our life!!

[Carrie]

Wonderful! So glad to help!

Blessings,
Carrie

[GinainMD]

I tried the different colored bean idea only I used counting bears and it worked very well. My younger dd in particular paid much closer attention since she didn't know which or how many questions she would have to answer. Also I separated the girls for the ERs and it didn't add too much time to our school day. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.

[Carrie]

Gina,

I'm so glad this worked well for you! Thanks for updating us on how it's going.

Blessings,
Carrie